Tesco was forced to sell its US arm, Fresh & Easy, in 2013 – after costs piled up, leaving the supermarket giant with a bill of nearly £2 billion. Tesco’s rival Sainsbury’s had similar problem, being forced to sell its Shaw’s grocery chain in 2004 after it failed to take off.

Robbie Williams

Robbie Williams had to admit in 2013 that his dream of cracking America was over as the struggle was “too exhausting”. The former Take That singer said: “When I released my compilation album The Ego Has Landed I went to America for two months to promote it.” “The album sold one million copies. That was not bad. But I don’t want to work that hard.” “I’ve concluded not to try it again. After that I did not promote any album in the US.”